Manila, Dec. 10 -- A Senate panel on Wednesday cited Chinese national Shi Chaoqun in contempt after he repeatedly denied having local contacts despite evidence linking him to a PHP100-million meat smuggling operation.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, Sen. Erwin Tulfo moved to cite Shi in contempt for "continuously lying" under oath, noting that it was impossible for a foreign national with no contacts to navigate the country's business and logistics systems.

"Niloloko tayo. Wala siyang kakayahan, nag-negosyo siya dito isang Chinese, pero walang contact (He's fooling us. He claims he has no capacity, yet he does business here without any contact)?" Tulfo said, as Senators Francis Pangil...